Love on a budget: Valentine’s Day ideas that won’t break the bank

BY LESLIE POSADAS

Multimedia Journalist

For many, Valentine’s Day spending is limited, but the desire to celebrate love remains strong.

Below are several budget-friendly options that could be used this Feb. 14.

Takeout and stargazing

Quality time doesn’t have to be expensive. Sharing a quick meal with someone special is an alternative option for a fancy dinner.

Chick-fil-A offers its annual Valentine’s Day heart-shaped trays, which can be enjoyed under the bright stars.

Gift basket

Creating a basket full of goodies has become the biggest trend over the past few years, and Breanne Casey, a student at Tarleton State University, has experienced this firsthand.

“One year, I made handwritten letters and separated them into three jars, decorated them according to my boyfriend’s aesthetic, bought a gift basket, added tissue paper, and included socks, his favorite self-care items, candies and topped it off with a collared Ariat shirt, which I thrifted brand new for only $15,” Casey said.

Sharing a similar experience, Naitlynn Garcia, also a student at Tarleton, believes being thoughtful and sentimental is worth more than a valuable item.

“A million words and actions are worth more than money,” Garcia said. “When my boyfriend made me a book full of things he loved about me, I felt more emotion and excitement than the necklace he got me because he took time out of his day, and it’s special and one of a kind.”

Cooking dinner at home

Crafting and enjoying a meal with someone special is both an activity and a gift.

Kambria Christman, an agricultural communications student at Tarleton, acknowledges the meaningful significance of cooking dinner at home with your significant other.

“My favorite date to do is making dinner together. It’s a fun way to spend time together and enjoy being around each other in the comfort of a home,” Christman said.

“I am a big romantic, and my boyfriend knows that, so rather than spending a lot of money on a fancy dinner, I would rather my boyfriend get me flowers and make a pizza at home, which are both things that I really love,” Christman said.

H-E-B carries freshly made in-store 16-inch pizzas, which are priced at $12.46 plus tax.

Handwritten cards

Handwritten cards have been a Valentine’s Day staple since kindergarten and still hold significant meaning.

“The most memorable gift my boyfriend has given me was a handwritten love note,” Christman said. “It’s something that I can keep forever and cherish.”

Similarly, Casey encourages individuals to acknowledge their significant other and make do with what’s at their disposal.

“Think about what’s meaningful to the other person — this doesn’t always mean spending money,” Casey said. “Anything from handwritten notes, watching their favorite movie with them, cooking their favorite dinner or making a picture collage slideshow with music for them to watch. There are a lot of heartfelt options that can be low-budget.”